26 January 2012

Knock, Knock

Knock, knock...

is there anyone still there?

I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't many of you dear readers left, seeing as how abandoning a blog for over four months is poor form. Very poor indeed. I will not bore you with excuses, about months of traveling and poor internet connections and the like; I will only say thank to those who sent me kind messages asking where I had disappeared to, wondering if I was ever coming back.

And to the three readers I have left (hi Kathy!), hello. How are you? It's good to be back.

We did indeed do a lot of traveling, eating tiny chicken dumplings stuffed with pistachios and chicken jus, cream-filled baklava at Ramadan, and enough felafel, schwarma, and hummus to feed an army. The highlight culinarily was Istanbul, the marvelous walkable city, which we visited at the height of hamsi season, hamsi being the gorgeous fresh anchovies from the Black Sea. We had lightly fried hamsi and hamsi pilaf and hamsi stew. We had fantastic caramelized quinces and delicious Turkish wine and the best roast chicken I've ever had (roasted in a salt crust and set aflame at the table). We have two recommendations for the next time you're in Istanbul: buy the Istanbul Eats book or app and make all your eating decisions based on it, and be sure to stay in Beyoglu.

I gave a lot of thought as to whether I wanted to continue this blog after such a long absence. Perhaps, I thought, I had moved into a new phase, lost momentum, I thought that all the reasons I started this blog for were no longer resonant with me. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this blog has always been just for me. A place to record things that I enjoy eating, it's as simple as that.

It should be clear to any reader that I don't write this blog for fame or fortune, I don't post often enough and I don't take advertising or sponsors. So this space is really just a space for me, a space for recipes and reflections and thoughts, and anyone who wants to come along for the ride is welcome.

We are moving abroad in the spring and so I hope to keep posting, chronicling the recipes we like , the new foods we try, and our adventures in the kitchen and out. Maybe you'd like to come along.

I, for one, am very glad that you are still here...do tell about Istanbul!!! I am totally obsessing about it..you are like an old friend, we dont see each other for years but when we do, it feels like we never separated.

I am so happy to see you back! I love the way you write, I love to hear about your food, and I love cooking the recipes you post. I think I emailed you a long time ago to say your recipes show up in my kitchen more than any other food blog. Just tonight I made the black pepper molasses chicken and it was amazing as always.

Please do keep posting! I'd like to come along! I just went through the same questions with my own blog.... and if people like you, they will always come back, that's what I decided. Your blog is awesome and I would be so sad to see it go!

It is good to see you back! I had a real smile on my face when I saw your post in my reader this morning! Your pictures look great, it sounds like the adventure was what you needed and now, I'm ready for some more food! LOL

I'm so glad you're back! Good luck with your move, and safe travels. Thank you so much for sharing the beautiful cultures of the beautiful Middle East! (if you ever publish a cook book, color me there!)

I am not one of the three readers you mention. Nevertheless, I have loved your blog for a long time. Thank you for the effort you have put into it. That you left for a while is no matter to me. It is just good to see you posting again. May good fortune always come your way.

I frequently make your Moutabal and Mashed Carrot Salad. I recently tried making the Nutty Pumpkin Dip, but I used a turban squash, which ended up being quite bitter. Must try again with a different squash variety.

I love the recipes you share and hope that you continue posting your food favorites and adventures.

I've been following for years, and happy to see you are still around. If you post, I will read it. A good number of the items in my "recipe" tags are from here, so I will always be interested in what you decide to serve.

Boy oh boy, am I (we) pleased to hear from YOU!! Bizarre really, considering I don't actually 'know' you but I kept thinking the worse, what with you travelling and the situation in your beloved Middle East right now.

I have your blog saved on my iGoogle homepage and was happy to see your updated post! You have posted more than a few recipes I plan to try and I really loved reliving the memories of the amazing food in Istanbul (the fresh anchovy sandwiches on the waterfront by the spice market! My favorite meal in Istanbul!!!) Can't wait to go along for more of your travels Mercedes!

I've had your blog in my blog's sidebar for years... Funny that you posted just now because I checked it that very day to see if there had been one I missed lately. For as long as I've been reading and enjoying your blog this is probably the first time I've commented... but I have shared it with many people over the years, enjoyed your lovely photography and stories, and think yours is exactly what a blog should strive to be.

I hadn't visited for a long time, and am so happy you have decided to continue your blog. I have had several friends of Middle Eastern descent and love the food cooked in their homes. It is light years away from the unappealing food available at the few Middle Eastern restaurants in Lincoln, NE. I will be coming back often to teach myself to make some of those wonderful meals.

I am so happy that you have decided to continue. I use your blog as a way to teach myself to reproduce some of the wonderful Middle Eastern meals I have had at the homes of friends. I also loved your ice cream series and would love to see more!